James feancis pluche



(No Model.)

'JP.-PLUGHE. FOLDING HAMM OGK- SUPPORT.

. Patented Dec. 25,1883.

N4 PETzRs. Hwhrliibcgmyhlf. Wuhingwn. m6.

which forms the base of the frame.

JAMES FRANCIS PLUCHE, OF XVATERTOVVN, NElV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO. GEORGE J. PORTER AND C. H. TUBBS & CO., ALL OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDlNG HAMMOCK-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,921, dated December 25, 1383.

' Application filed July 7, 1883. No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES FRANCIS PLUenn, of Watertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Hammock andAwning Supporter, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification.

The present invention relates to portable frames or supports for hammocks, swings, awnings, and the like, and has for its object theproduction of a strong and light frame, readily set up and taken down, capable of re duction to small compass, and easily handled and transported ,from place to place.

The invention resides, chiefly, in the combination and arrangement of the several elements of the frame, and in the special con struction of certain parts thereof, as hereinafter fully set forth.

The weight of the hammock and its occupant is sustained by a long bar or bed-piece, v At each end of this bar cross-pieces are fastened at their centers by detachable hinge-joints, and from the ends of each cross pieee project uprights or braces having pivoted between their upper ends, which come together, long arms or stretchers, to which the ends of the hammock-rope are attached when the same is in use. These arms or stretchers have grooves at the top for the ropes to rest in, and on their under sides are furnished with cleats or buttons for the attachment of the same. When the frame is set up, the stretchers (which are in the same vertical plane with the bed-piece) are depressed at an angle and their inner ends inserted under stirrups on said bed-piece.

v This is all the manipulation required to pre pare the frame for use. The direction of the stretchers causes the weight to fall approximately in the line of their length, so that they may be made very light and yet have the requisite strength.

To take down and fold the frame it is only necessary to slip back the stretchers out of engagement with the stirrups when the uprights or braces, turning on the hinge-joint of the cross-pieces to the bed-piece, can be laid flat upon thelatter, the stretchers turning on their pivots to a horizontal position. To still furpieces can-be readily detached from the bar pins or screws connecting the stretchers with the uprights being removed, these parts may also be detached.

For ordinary use as a support for ham mocks or awnings, the length of the cross pieces affords sufficient base for the frame to prevent tipping over; but to enable the same to be used as a swing auxilliary cross-pieces of greater length are provided, and may be attached to the braces by means of pins entering small holes therein. Slats forming foot-rests are provided, one on each side of the bedpiece, and supported at either end by the cross-pieces.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a support or frame constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2, a vertical section, partly in elevation; Fig. 3, a side View of the device folded, and Fig. 4 a detail of the auxiliary cross-piece.

At each end of the bar or bed-piece A is secured a metal hook, a, which normally embraces the metal loop or staple b on each crosspiece B. The latter are fastened at their ends, by screws, bolts, or otherwise, to the bottoms of uprights U, and constitute, in connection with said uprights, triangular braces or supports for the stretchers D. These stretchers are pivoted near their middle, at d, between the uprights G, by means of bolts and nuts, and can turn freely about this point d.

When in use, the inner ends of the stretchers D, which are beveled from below, are inserted under the stirrups E, the latter being bolted to the bed-piece A. The support is now in condition for use. The hammock is swung by passing the ropes through grooves d in the adjusted to the proper height, the ropes are fastened to the buttons or cleats F. It will be seen that the strain on the stretchers is nearly in the line of their length-that is, in the di rection of their greatest resisting capacityand the weight is sustained ultimately by the ther reduce the device in compass, the eross-' or bed-piece, and the nuts holding the pivotupper ends of stretchers D, and after being long bar or bed-piece A, and hence is distributed over considerable surface. The parts can thus be made very light and convenient, for handling without danger of breaking. \Vood is the preferred material.

The function of keeping the parts in place while in use is performed entirely by the stirrups E, and no other fastening is necessary. The Weight of the occupant of the hammock tends to force'the stretchers D firmly into the sockets formed by said stirrups, and their ends enter under the latter far enough to prevent their. riding up in case of any sudden movement or change in the position of the weight.

By constructing the stretchers D with grooved ends and providing them with cleats or buttons (1, the hammock can be adjusted to different heights with little or no difficulty.

To fold the support or frame for transportation, the stretchers D are slipped back out of engagement with the stirrups E, and can then, together with the uprights or braces, be laid flat upon the bed-piece in the position shown in Fig. 3, the stretchers turning on their pivots d and the braces on the hinge-joint a. The device may be still further reduced in compass by slipping the loops or staples b out of engagement with the hooks a, thus detaching the cross-pieces B from the bed-piece A, and, if necessary or desirable, the stretchers can be readily detached from the uprights by unscrewing the holding-nuts and removing the pins or bolts.

If it is desired to use the support for a swing, the auxiliary cross-pieces G are applied to the uprights O by inserting the pins G in small holes prepared to receive them. By this means the bearing-surface of the base is extended sufficiently to insure steadiness of the support while the center of gravity changes from side to side.

The boards or slats 6, supported by the crosspieces B, afford rests for the feet, and at the same time protect the grass of the lawn from injury.

The whole device presents a strong and at the same time light support, that can be set up and taken down at a moments notice and with small difficulty, and which can readily be packed up and transported from place to place.

By having the bar A at the bottom and the other parts connected therewith in the manner specified, the inconvenience of having a rod or guy-rope at the top from one stretcher to another is avoided.

WVhile the frame or support shown and described is deemed the best embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that parts thereof may be used without the others.

Having now fully described the said invenvention and the manner of carrying the same into effect, what I claim is 1. The combination of the long bar or bedpiece, the cross-pieces, hinged one to each end stretchers, pivoted near their middle between the upper ends of said uprights, and the stirrups, substantially as described.

braces hinged thereto, of the stretchers pivoted to said braces, and the stirrups for receiving the inner ends of said stretchers and holding them against said bed-piece, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the bedpiece, crosspi'eces detachably connected therewith, uprights secured to the ends of said cross-pieces and converging toward their upper extremities, stretchers pivoted between the ends of said uprights, and stirrups on said bed-piece for receiving the ends of said stretchers, which are beveled from beneath, substantially as de scribed.

4. The combination, with the frame or sup port comprising a bed-piece, cross-pieces, uprights, and stretchers, of the auxiliary crosspieces, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

. 5. The combination, with the bed-piece and cross-pieces attached thereto, of the slats or boards supported by said cross-pieces, and forming foot-rests, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES FRANCIS PLUCHE.

Vitnesses:

EDMUND B. XYYNX, PHI NORTON.

of said bar or bed-piece, the uprights, the

2. The combination, with the bed-piece and 

